VALEDICTORY SERMON, 


DELIVERED 


IN CHRIST CHURCH, 
RALEIGH, N.C. 
BY 
REV. GEORGE W. FREEMAN, D.D. 
ON HIS RELINQUISHING THE PASTORAL CHARGE 


OF SAID CHURCH, 


RALEIGH: 
PRINTED BY WESTON R. GALES, OFFICE OF THE RALEIGH REGISTER, 


1841, 


108 14 rads Pou 


whet. 


A yet : 
4 +f 


- 


[sk Be cae ee Su 


wh . » 

e 

1 - 
” ‘ at 
mae, +3 


att i 


ce ha ARS it 


meh 
ne a fk 
Pe) Me fa) Bt 


SERMON. 


Il CortnTHIANS, x11I CHAP. 1]. 


“Finally, Brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of 
one mind, live in peace ; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”’ 


THEsE words were addressed to the Christian disciples at 
Corinth. Among these Corinthians, St. Paul had formerly 
laboured for the space of nearly two years; having been the 
first to set before them the Gospel of the grace of God.— 
During this time, he had had the satisfaction of witnessing 
the conversion of considerable numbers to the Christian faith, 
and of seeing the Church well and permanently established. 
But being afterwards called away by other duties, he soon 
had the mortification to learn, that the good work, which he 
had been instrumental in accomplishing, had become, sadly 
marred by the introduction of a contentious and_ schis- 
matical spirit; that the Church, which he had bestowed so 
much pains in establishing, was split up into parties; that. 
grievous abuses, both of Christian doctrine and Christian: 
practice, had crept in among them; and that, through the: 
machinations of an unauthorized Teacher, his own influence 
and authority were greatly diminished. Being moved by this 
information, he wrote with promptitude his first Epistle); 
in which, he boldly asserted his spiritual authority over. them; 
exposed the insidious arts of the self-constituted Apostles 
reproved the Corinthians for their errors and excesses, and, 
threatened them with the strong arm of discipline.) )so..: 

This letter, having produced the desired effect, in awaken 
ing them to a just sense of their faults and bringing thenr to 
a deep feeling of penitence, the compassionate Apostle wrote 


4 


to them again, in order to comfort them in their sorrow, 
occasioned by his former severity, to prepare them for an 
intended visit, and to confirm them in those Christian doc- 
trines and principles which he had, from the first, so care- 
fully inculcated. 

In this Epistle, he employed considerable space in apolo- 
gizing for himself against certain charges and insinuations 
which had been thrown out, respecting his sincerity and in- 
tegrity in the discharge of his Ministry, and in justifying 
his conduct by recounting the evidences of his Apostleship, 
the scenes of suffering in which he had borne a distinguished . 
part, and the labours which he had undergone, and the doc- 
trines which he had preached in the course of his Ministry. | 
In conclusion, he bade them, for the present, an affectionate 
farewell; summing up the particulars of his parting advice, 
in the words of the Text—* Finally, Brethren, farewell. Be 
perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; 
and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”’ 

And, brethren, may I not with propriety adopt these words 
of the Apostle as the basis of my parting counsel to you ?>— 
Though no Apostle, certainly, in the sense in which St. 
Paul was; though destitute of inspiration, though standing 
at an immeasurable distance below him in authority, in zeal, 
in wisdom, in deyotedness to the cause of our common Mas- 
ter; yet, like him, may I not, on this last occasion of my ap- 
pearance before you as your Minister, refer to the past exer- 
cise of my Ministry among you, and leave with you a word 
of exhortation with respect to the future? 

When I came first among you, “I came not,’ as you will 
readily bear witness, “ with excellency of speech, or of wis- 
dom ;?? and during the space of eleven years, I have con- 
tinued with you, not in any vain confidence of an ability and 
strength at all proportionate to the importance of the sta- 
tion which I have occupied, but “in weakness, and Sear, 
and much trembling.’ Nevertheless, according to my 


% 


4) 


ability, and agreeably to my understanding of the truth of 
God, I have made known unto you the way of life. I com- 
menced my Ministry here, by spreading before you, from 


‘this same Epistle of St. Paul, the nature and obligations of 


the Christian ministry, together with the correlative duty 
of those for whom that ministry is provided. ~@mbassa- 
dors for Christ, heralds of the Cross, stewards of the mys- 
teries of God, watchmen upon the walls of Zion, we are 
ealled upon, (I showed you from the Apostle,) to “renounce 
the hidden things of dishonesty,’ not to “walk in erafti- 
ness,’ nor to “handle the word of God deceitfully,’’? “ but, 
by manifestation of the truth, to commend ourselves,”’ if 
possible, “to every man’s conscience in the sight of God;’’ 
and in furtherance of this great object, to “preach not our- 
selves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your ser- 
vants for Jesus sake.’? And having shown you what it was 
to preach one’s self, and what to preach Christ Jesus the Lord, 
Tinferred and inculcated your duty in relation toa preached 
Gospel—proving, that if we, the Ministers of Jesus Christ, are 
bound to lay aside all selfish considerations, and to preach 
unto you the pure Gospel of Christ, the obligation is equal- 


_ ly strong upon you, to receive and profit by our preaching. 


Thus it was that I commenced my Ministry as a Preacher 


| of the Gospel among you; and from that time to the present 
_ moment, it has been my constant aim to set before you, with all 


| 


| 


| 


plainness, and with what of power I possessed, the doctrines 


_and the precepts of the blessed Gospel of Peace—the whole 


truth as it is in Jesus—and to urge upon you, by the aid of 
such considerations as the vast importance of your eternal 
interests most readily suggested, to vecezve the truth in sin- 
cerity, to embrace the hope set before you, and thus to “ lay 
up in store for yourselves, a good foundation against the time 
to come, that you might lay hold on eternal life.’’ 

To this end I have said much to you of your naturally sin- 
ful, helpless, perishing condition, labouring, by appeals to 


6 


your own experience and observation, as well as fo the holy 
Scriptures, to convince you of this fundamental truth; so 

that being made sensible of your disease and its fatal conse- 
_ quences, you might become anxious for relief, and be induced 
| earnestly to apply to that glorious remedy which yes woes 
of Heaven has provided. . 

This remedy, 1 have taught, is to be found in the ‘great, 
the tremendous sacrifice of the Cross; by which, atonement 
was made for sin, so that God might consistently with justice 
pardon the sinner, and through which, the gift of the Holy 


Spirit was procured for the illumination of your understand- 


ings, the conversion of your hearts, and the sanctification of 
your whole nature, soul, body and spirit. And ¢o this sac- 
rifice of the Cross, J have constantly exhorted you to apply, 


with penitent and contrite hearts, in the full assurance of — 


faith that your application would not be rejected—pointing 
you, for proof, to the kindly invitation of the Son of God him- 
self to “all the weary and heavy laden’’ to “ come unto him” 
and “ find rest unto their souls,”’ and his gracious declaration, 
that “him that cometh unto him he would in no wise cast 
out.”? I have encouraged you by the example of the prodi- 
gal son, to “arise and go to your Father,” and by referring 
you to the most solemn asseveration of our blessed Lord, that 
‘there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one 
sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just 
persons which need no repentance.”’ 


I have exhorted you to “strzve to enter in at the strait | 
gate,’ and urged the necessity of so doing from the conside- | 


ration that “many will seek to enter in’? who “shall not be | 


able,’’ because they seek not earnestly and perseveringly, or 4 


because they seek amiss—and I have exhorted you to labour 


diligently to “ make your calling and your election sure”’ for — 


the reason, that though “many are called,’ there are but 
“ few chosen,”’ and that it is only they who “continue in the 
word of Christ,” that will be counted his “ disciples indeed.?’ 


| 


| 


! 


rs 


I have cautioned you against mistaking the use of the out- 
ward forms and the profession of religion, for religion itself; 
showing you, by the case of the Pharisee and Publican, that 
God looks at the real emotions of the heart, rather than to the 


expressions of the lips, and that he who approaches the mercy 


seat with the earnest cry, “ God be merciful to me a sinner,”’ 
will go down to his house justified, rather than he who may 

_boastfully exclaim, “ God I thank thee that I am not as other 

_men are ;’’ and proving that no imagined perfections of char- 
acter will avail you in the sight of God, while it can be emm- 
phatically said to you, as our blessed Lord once said to an 
amiable youth, “ one thing thou lackest;’’ that, though it is 
easy to say to the author of our holy religion, “ Lord, I will 
follow thee whithersoever thou goest,’’ yet he who would be 
the disciple of Christ in reality, must not only say, but do— 
must “deny himself and take up his cross and follow him ;’’ 
that “not every one that saith unto him Lord, Lord, shall 
enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the 
will’”’ of God ; that whatsoever a man’s profession may be, if 
he be not truly “for Christ, he is against him;’’ if he gather 
not with him he scattereth abroad; and that “if any man 
have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” 

I have warned you of the fruitlessness and the fatality of 
attempting to “ serve two masters,’ so opposite as are God 
and the world; of the great danger you incur, by such an 
attempt, of coming under the condemnation of those who are 
‘lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God ;”’ of the fatuity 
of suffering yourselves to “be deceived’? by the vain hope 
that you may continue to “ sow to the flesh”’ and yet “reap 

_ of the spirit ;’”? of the folly of delaying your repentance, like 

Felix, “to a more convenient season,”’ or presuming, like 
some of old, on the “long suffering of God,”’ as if he were 
“ stack concerning his promises’’ and threatenings, “as some 
men count slackness.”’ 

I haye warned you also against the delusion of expecting 


s 
to be justified before God, either by your own good works, 
or by a barren and unfruitful faith—against the imprudence of 
affording opportunity to “any man to spoil you of your faith 
through philosophy and vain deceit ;’’ and against the awful 
danger, to which you are liable, of being “hardened through 
the deceitfulness of sin.”” 

In seasons of trial and affliction, I have counselled you “not 
to despise the chastening of the Lord,’ remembering that 
“whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,’? that “they who 
sow in tears shall reap in joy,”’ and that, if you “cast your 
burden on the Lord, he will sustain you.’’? In the hour of 
doubt and despondency, I have encouraged you to “ wait 
still upon the Lord,’ in the full confidence that he would 
‘strengthen your hearts,’ to “be of good comfort and arise 
for he calleth you to him,’’ and, under the severest trials, not 
to “ fear,’ for, if you do indeed belong to the “ little flock’ 
of Christ, you have the assurance that “it is your father’s 
good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’’. 

In fine, so far as space of time, and my abilities have allowed, 
T have fully spread before you, I trust, the blessed Gospel of 
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. “Ihave not shunned 
to declare unto you the whole counsel of God;”’ and, I think 
I may say, that it has ever been my principal aim to render 
that “counsel’’ effectual to your spiritual and eternal well- 
being, by striving as much as in me lay, to keep always in 
view the great object of my ministry, so as to be able in sin- 
cerity to say, “God forbid that I should glory save in the 
Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is cru- 
cified unto me and I unto the world.” 

But, brethren, these things are not said by way of boasting. 
Alas! how little reason have I to glory in what Ihave done! , 
Even if “the spirit’? had always been “ willing,’’? O, how 
weak has been the flesh! Had I been diligent and faithful 
in performing among youall that it was in my power to do, or, 
possessing the ability, had I fully discharged all the duties 


9 


appertaining to my station, still I should have had no ground 
for boasting ; but must have acknowledged myself to be “an 
unprofitable servant,’? who had “done no more than it was 
his duty to do.”? But now, when I look back on the past, 
and call up in review the numerous occasions when | might 
be justly charged, by him whom I profess to serve, with 
apathy, with slothfulness, with neglect; when I look over 
the field in which I have been so long labouring, and see so 
little really accomplished for the glory of Christ and the sal- 
vation of the souls committed to my trust, I find, you may 
well conceive, much greater cause for the deepest humility 
and sorrow and prostration of spirit, than for any thing like 
exultation and glorying. No, brethren, God forbid that 
I should seek to magnify my weak, my exceedingly im- 
perfect services in the Redeemer’s cause among you.— 
My sole reason for this slight recapitulation, is, that thus 
recalling to your minds some of the truths you have been 
taught, I may peradventure, lead you to bring yourselves 
into judgment, and to decide how far you have discharg- 
ed your duty, in receiving the truth into an honest and 
good heart, and bringing forth fruit to the honour and glory 
of God—how far you have been “ doers of the word, and not 
hearers only.”? And happy will it be, brethren, both for 
you and for me, if the result of such retrospect and self-exami- 
nation, shall be deep contrition for our past remissnesses and 
unprofitableness, and a greater degree of earnestness, a more 
hearty and thorough engagedness in the great work, which, 
as Christians, we all have to do. 

Having thus briefly called your attention to the past, I 
would now direct it to the future. As this day terminates 
our connexion as Pastor and flock, as this is my last address 
to you in that endearing relation, it seems to me not unfit, it 
seems exceedingly appropriate, that I should address you in 
the language of the Apostle—“ Finally, Brethren, farewell. 
Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace ; 


and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”’ 
B 


10 


Permit me then to explain, to enlarge upon, and to apply, | 
this farewell advice of the Apostle to the Corinthians, as my — 
parting counsel to you. And should you receive it in the | 


same spirit of sincerity and affection in which it is offered, I 
cannot but cherish the hope that it will not have been ten- 
dered in vain, but will prove to you a word fitly spoken and 
in season—yea, evena “savour of life unto life’’ to your souls. 


i 
} 
f 


The first part of the Apostle’s exhortation is “ Be perfect.’” | 


This, taken literally according to the translation, means, “go | 
on unto perfection—come not te a stand in your Christian | 


profession—be not content with moderate attainments, but — 
aim at the full completion of the Christian character—labour — 
after perfection in holiness, perfection in knowledge; cherish | 
every grace and every virtue unto maturity ; and cease not — 


your exertions till ready to be crowned with the cheering 
sentence ina better world, “well done good and faithful ser- 
vant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” 

This, certainly, is the doctrine of Scripture, whether ‘it 
be inculcated in this particular place or not ; and I may wel! 
be excused, if I embrace the occasion, briefly to apply it.— 
Some people seem to think they have done enough in the 
way of religion, and for their own souls, when they have 
summoned up sufficient resolution to make a publie profes- 
sion of the faith of the Gospel—and that after this, provided 
they are not positively and flagrantly vicious, they are very 
good Christians and have but little more to do. But, breth- 
ren, let it noz be so with you. Remember that your publie 
profession of Christianity in the sacraments and ordinances of 
the Church, was but the commencement of a work, which 
you then covenanted to carry on, diligently and without in- 
termission—the beginning of a warfare with the great ene- 
mies of your salvation, “ the world, the flesh and the Devil,’’ 
in which you solemnly pledged yourselves to “fight man- 
fully’ as the “ faithful Soldiers’’ of Jesus Christ, even “ unto 
the end of your lives.” 


il 


You have been taught that the Christian life is progres- 
sive (even like the morning light which shines more and 
more unto the perfect day)—that you are to “ grow in grace 
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’’ 
—and that you must be always pressing forward “ towards 
the mark for the prize of the high ealling ef God in Christ 
Jesus,’”’ or you can never hope to attain unto “the end of 
your faith,” “the salvation of your souls.’? Be not satisfied, 
then, with a dow standard in your religion—think it not 
enough, that you are outwardly observant of the Lord’s day, 
constant In yeur attendance on public worship, exact in your 
private devotions, scrupulous in the daily reading of the 
Scriptures, and moral in your life and conversation in the 
world ; but strive also, after holiness of heart and life. Aim 
to be truly converted to God, and thoroughly imbued with 
the spirtt of his Son’s Gospel. To this end pray, continu- 
ally, to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, “that 
he would grant you to be strengthened with might dy his 
spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwellin your 
hearts by faith; that ye being rooted and grounded in love, 
may be able to know the love of Christ which passeth 
knowledge,” and thus “‘be filled with al/ the fulness of God.”? 

The meaning of the expression, however, in the original, 
here rendered “ Be perfect,’”’ is put together again or restore 
what was before deranged or out of joint. And if we sup- 
pose the Apostle to have had reference in his advice here, to 
_ those divisions and contentions which had formerly prevailed 
among the Corinthians, it might with much propriety be 
translated, be reunited, or be reconciled again. “The Apos- 
_ tle’s meaning,”’ says one of the commentators, “is, that where- 
-as the members of the Church were all, as it were, dis/o- 
cated or out of joint, they snould be joined together again 
in love; and they should endeayour to make perfect, what 
was amiss among them, either in faith or manners.’? And, 
in this sense also, I may be permitted to apply the exhorta- 


12 


tion to you, brethren. Whatever differences of opinion may 
have existed among you hitherto, suffer them to continue no 
longer. Be reunited and knit together in the bonds of Chris- 
tian friendship and brotherly love. Have any, through dis- 
satisfaction with some of their brethren, or with their Min- 
ister, or for any other cause, been prompted to withdraw 
from the communion of the Church or from the common 
worship of the Sanctuary? Or, are there any unholy, un- 
friendly feelings between different members of the congre- 
gation, which prevent the mutual interchange of social inter- 
course and good offices, or that union of counsel, influence 
and support, so necessary to the prosperity of the Church ? 
O, my brethren, be united again—be perfectly joined to- 
gether in love. et not the welfare of your own souls, the 
interests of religion at large, or the advancement of the 
Church of your affections, be hindered by private views, by 
party prejudices, or by personal dislikes. Especially, now, 
when you have to provide a successor to him who is about to 
leave you, let all dissentions cease ; and let the only emula- 
tion among you be, who shall show most attachment to the 
cause of Christ, who shall be most active in promoting the 
peace and unity and prosperity of his Church. Se perfect; 
grow in grace—increase in holiness—be completely united, 

and 5 ais maintain “the unity of the spirit in the bond 
of peace.”’ 

The next part of the Apostle’s advice is, “Be of good 
comfort ;”’ that is, be not cast down, but take courage and 
put your trust in the Lord. This might have been intended 
to apply to such of the Christian brethren as had been over- 
whelmed with sorrow, produced by the severity of the Apos- 
tle’s reproof in his former epistle. Finding them so tender 
of conscience, so easily affected by his rebukes, and so deep- 
ly penitent for their faults, he was probably anxious to raise 
them up from their despondency, and restore them again to 
cheerfulness and peace of mind. “ Be not disheartened,’’ he 


13 


would seem to say, “you are sensible of your faults and sorry 
for them—you have renounced your errors and commenced 
a new course of action—“ be of good comfort,’’ then—with 
humility and penitence cast yourselves at the foot of the 
Cross, and your sins and iniquities shall be remembered no 
more.”’ 

In the same language would I address such of you, my 
brethren, as may be cast down by a sorrowful sense of past 
transgressions—look upon the Cross of Jesus Christ—see 
what he has done and suffered in order to take away your 
sins, and be not prevented from going to him, either by the 
number or the aggravation of your offences. But, be of good 
comfort, arise and seek confidently, the pardon which he has 
died to procure you. | 

In like manner, should you be called to struggle with the 
trials and distresses incident to human life—-should disap- 
pointment and sorrow overtake you—should the waves of 
affliction and mourning break over your heads—should your 
pathway be beset with briars and thorns, and should the wide 
bosom of the world offer to your anxious eye nought but the 
prospect of a barren and trackless wilderness—still I would 
exhort you to “be of good comfort’’—when trouble is near 
the Lord is not afar off—cast your burden therefore, cast all 
your cares and sorrows on him, and he shall sustain you.— 
Put your trust in him, and you shad/ de supported—Be strong 
in the Lord and in the power of his might, and he will not 
suffer your feet to be moved. : 

And so, are there any of you sorrowful at parting with 
your Minister, to them also would I apply the Apostle’s 
words, “ Be of good comfort.”’ This separation, though pain- 
ful, is but for a time—we shall meet again——if not here in 
this world of trial, yet in that blessed world above, we may 
_ hope to meet, where there shall be no more separation——no 
more sorrow nor crying; but where all tears shall be wiped 
from our eyes. “ Be of good comfort,’’ beloved—though sep- 


14 
arated in person, we shall be united in heart and affection— 
united in one common hope—united in prayer to the one 
God and Father of us all—united in pressing onward in the 
same narrow path, towards the same blessed mansion, which 
eur common Lord and Master and only Saviour has gone to 
prepare for us. 

The next advice of the Apostle is “ Be of one mind,” or 
as the original may, more literally, be rendered, think or 
mind the same thing. This, of course, is not to be so un- 
derstood, as if the Apostle meant to enjoin a universal 
agreement in matters of mere opinion. ‘There are many 
things about which men may lawfully differ in sentiment ; 
indeed, they are so variously constituted by nature, that w72- 
versal accordance in opinion must be regarded as nearly 
impracticable. But the advice is given to Christians, and 
has reference, mainly, if not solely, to those doctrines and 
principles, by which ¢hey are to be distinguished from the 
rest of the world aroundthem. In ¢hese it must be highly im- 
portant that they be of one mind—a difference here, must 
necessarily involve consequences of the most disastrous kind. 
Of this, the Corinthians derived abundant proof from their 
own experience; when, according to the Apostle, there ex- 
isted envying and strife and divisions ameng them. Their 
want of consent in doctrine—of oneness of mind in the du- 
ties of their Christian calling—had opened the door to many 
excesses, introduced confusion into their counsels, and well 
nigh totally destroyed their existence as a Church. 

And such is the manifest tendency of a want of union in 
sentiment, among Christians at the present day. Well, 
therefore, may I, brethren, on taking leave of you as your 
Minister, exhort you, with the Apostle, to “ be of one mind.’’ 
And this I would press upon you, as essentially necessary to 
your present well-being, and to your future prosperity as a 
Church. “ Be of one mind,’’ in regard to the great doctrines 
of the Bible, as set forth and explained in the Liturgy, offices 


15 


and articles of the Book of Common Prayer. Suffer no one 
to unsettle your faith in those doctrines, or to lower your 
estimate of their importance. Give no place to that sugges- 
tion of the Devil, that articles of belief are of no value, and 
that you may be sound Churchmen and good Christians with- 
out troubling yourselves about doctrines and creeds. But 
hold fast your profession as Christians and as Churchmen, 
without wavering, and earnestly “contend for the faith once 
delivered to the saints.”’ 

“‘ Be of one mind,” also, in respect to the settlement and 
the treatment of your next Minister. In this matter, it is 
highly important that you should ¢hink or at least speak, 
the same thing. Without unanimity here, all human efforts 
to advance the prosperity of your Zion, must prove unavail- 
ing—and though you may have a Minister, yet his situation 
will be uncomfortable, and his prospect for usefulness among 
you, almost hopeless. Shou!d you, therefore, be so fortu- 
nate as to obtain a Pastor willing to cast in his lot among 
you, who, possessing useful, if not showy talents, is sound in 
principle as a Churchman, evangelical in doctrine, holy in 
life, zealous and in earnest in the cause of Christ and the sal- 
vation of immortal souls; O, let no considerations merely per- 
sonal, no private views, no capricious preferences of another, 
no party prejudices, prevent your being heartily undted in 
contributing to his support and comfort, in strengthening 
his hands and encouraging his heart, and in convincing him, 
that, whatever differences there may be in mere opinion, be- 
tween you and him, you are determined thai, at least zz 


_ practice, you and he, will be of “one heart and one soul.’’ 


Above all, brethren, be of one mind in regard to the great 


end of your Christian calling. In this respect, it is of infinite 
moment that you should all think the same thing, that you 
should fix your minds and hearts upon the same object, that 


you should agree to travel the same road. Let the one thing 


needful, the religion of the Gospel, the means of salvation, 


«16 
be that in which you all agree, the object of all your exer- 


tions, the centre of all your hopes. In this let ws all be 
united—this, let us all seek after, at all times, with one 


heart and one soul, so that when called to separate from 


one another in this world, as we must all sooner or later cer- 
tainly look for, we may be comforted with the blessed as- 
surance, that we shall meet again, in the world to come, 
around the throne of God. ; 

The last particular of the Apostle’s farewell advice is, “live 
in peace.”? This is an exhortation always needful in this 
world of tumult and strife, and well worthy of being heeded 
by all classes of men. But it is specially important that it 
be observed by them who are members of the household of 
Him, who is emphatically styled the Prince of Peace, and 
among them, if any where, we havea right to dook for peace- 
It was the parting legacy bestowed by our “blessed Lord 
upon his Church, a little before his death, “ Peace I leave 
with you, my peace I give unto you.”” And it is only so 
far as this precious legacy is preserved among Christians at 
the present, that they truly deserve the appellation of disci- 
ples of Christ. If then, brethren, you would maintain the 
honour of the Christian name, and prove your claim to be 
counted followers of Jesus, “ live in peace.’’ 

Be at peace among yourselves. Causes of offence wll 
arise among you. Events will be perpetually occurring, cal- 
culated to try your patience, to irritate your temper, to pro- 
voke, perhaps, your indignation. But these must all be met 
by the exercise of the Christian virtues of forbearance, meek- 
ness, humility, gentleness and an affectionate, conciliatory 
disposition. Brethren of the same family must be mutually 
yielding, compliant and forgiving. “The servants of the 
Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all, patient, in 
meekness instructing all that oppose themselves,”’ “ forbear- 
ing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of 
the spirit in the bond of peace.”’ ay 


fe. 
a 


1% 


‘Live in peace,’’ also with others, those who are not of 
the household of faith—even those who are not of the same 
-mind with you, in religious things, according to that of the 
 Apostle—« if it be possible as much as lieth in you live peace- 
ably with all men.’’ Cultivate a friendly disposition to- 
wards them—seek all opportunities of doing them good—be 
“not too ready to believe reports of their harsh expressions‘or | 
evil designs towards you—and especially return not evil for 
evil, or railing for railing—but contrariwise, blessing.— 
And ever remember that the true Christian spirit prompts 
its possessor to forgive an injury, so soon as it is committed 
—so do, and you will “live in peace.” 

But be careful above all things that you “live at peace’’ 
with God. This, brethren, is your grand concern. This 
is the point to which the whole circle of Christian virtues 
tend as to their centre. This is the sum of all Christian per- 
fection—the goal to which a// your efforts must be directed. 
And unless you attain to this, however you may live, you 
ean neither die in peace, nor dwell with peace hereafter.— 
O, then, labour earnestly for reconciliation and peace with 
God; be faithful in the examination of yourselves, and im- 
portunate in your application to the great mediator of peace 
between God and man; be vigilant in keeping your hearts 
and ruling your lives. In fine—be perfect; be of good com- 
fort; be of one mind; live in peace; and the God of love 

_and peace shall be with you. Yes, brethren, God shall be 
with you—he hath so declared by his holy Apostle, and he— 
will keep his word. Be you but sincere and honest in your — 
profession of attachment to his service—be but obedient and 
faithful, and you shall not be left destitute—God will come 
unto you and dwell with you in love and in peace. Be you 
of one mind and love one another, and the love of God shall 
fill your hearts. Be you perfect and live in peace, and the 
peace of God shall always attend you. 

The God of love and peace shall be with you, to bless and 


43 


prosper his Church. He will not suffer his vineyard to lan- 
guish, nor give his heritage to reproach. He will be a wall 
of defence to his people who trust in, and are obedient to his 
will, and will not suffer the foot of pride to come near to hurt | 
them, nor the hand of the ungodly to cast them down—By | 
his gracious presence, he will comfort them in their sorrow, 
and cheer them in the darkest hour of their desolation—He 
will make their “ peace to wie as ariver, and their rightepne, 
ness as the waves of the sea.’ 
And if the God of love-and peace shall thus be with you, 
dear brethren, then be not dismayed at the approach of evil 
—be not cast down by the appearance of trouble; but take 
courage and trust in him.» What he doeth unto you ‘by his 
trials, ye know not now, but ye shad/ know hereafter. Hope 
in God, and you shall yet praise Him—seek a refuge-in “the 
secret place of the most High,’’ and you shall secured “abide ‘ 
under the shadow of the Almighty.”’ | 
And now, beloved brethren, and friends, a ee words 
more, and my message to you isended. The ministry which — 
I have so long exercised among you, is this day brought to a 
close. For eleven years, nearly one sixth part of the life of 
-man, I have been your Minister, the appointed watchman for 
your souls—and during this long period, it is not improba- 
ble, that I may sometimes have ented, both in doctrine and 
in practice. But if there has been any thing in the instruc- 
tions which I have given you, znconsistent with the truth 
and the spirit of Christ’s Gospel; if ever a word has fallen 
from my lips censorious or uncharitadle ; if any part of my 
conduct has been at variance with the principles of the reli- 
gion which I profess; and if, in any of these respects, I have 
been a stumbling block and a rock of offence, or have need- 
lessly give pain to a single soul among you, as 1 most hum- 
bly pray for the pardoning mercy of God, so also, I here in 
sincerity crave your forgiveness. And as 1 would hope for 
this mercy myself, so do I most freely extend it to others.—_ 


r 19 


If there is a single person among you, whose enmity I have 
incurred, (I do not delzeve there is one in this whole com- 
munity)—if any of you have ever done, attempted, or thought 
‘to do me evil, in word or deed, I do most heartily forgive 
him—as well as, most sincerely declare, that there dwells 
not the individual in this community towards whom I enter- 
tain any harsher feelings than those of kindness and good will. 

Most sincerely, then, can I say to you all, Farewell.— 

And I heartily pray to God that you may, indeed, fare well, 
in all things—in your worldly business, in your family rela- 
tions, in your religious interests—in life—in the hour of 
death, and throughout all eternity. 

And now, brethren, let us draw near to the table of our 
common Lord and Saviour, and while there, celebrating his 
great sacrifice of himself for our sins, let us pray earnestly 
_ for ourselves, and for one another, that we may all be perfect, 
be of good comfort, be of one mind, and live in peace—and 
that the God of love and peace may be with us both now 
and forevermore ! 


nx 


Wey 


